Ideal classroom:

The classroom would have a large carpeted gathering area for students to sit on the floor in a circle for team building activities and class presentations. It would have space for many, many books on low shelves in book bins with the covers facing forward. These shelves would need to be on two ajacent walls. In the library area or above the gathering area there will be a loft large enough for 5-6 kids to meet in for novel circles or to have a different quiet work area for reading, etc. There would be computers in the classroom (no need for a technology lab). The computers would be in groups of 3 or 4 in various parts of the classroom to allow students to access individually or in teams. There will be individual work spaces that are arranged in groups to allow for individual work at time and cooperative group work at other times. There will be a walk through coat hook and storage area (inside or outside of the classroom). The storage area will be large enough to hold a backpack, shoes and mailbox area for homework and other take home papers. The classroom needs to have a sink and a bathroom. There will be a "messy area" which has a tiled floor, low tables for microscopes and other science observation tools. There would be an adjoining room with a one way mirror so parents, physchologists, visiting teachers can observe.